China has imposed sanctions on several EU politicians, including Green Party politician Bütikofer. Previously, the EU, for its part, had imposed sanctions because of China's crackdown on the Uyghurs.
China has imposed punitive measures against ten Europeans and four institutions in the EU in response to EU sanctions. Among others, two German MEPs are affected by the Chinese sanctions: Green politician Reinhard Bütikofer and Michael Gahler of the CDU.
Sanctions were also imposed on the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin. This was announced by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The ten politicians and scholars and four organizations from the EU would "seriously harm China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and misinformation." The named individuals and their relatives would be banned from entering China and the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. In addition, companies and organizations associated with them would not be allowed to do business with China.
The European Union should refrain from "lecturing others about human rights" and from "interfering in China's internal affairs," the ministry said. read more